Occult GI bleeding, a common finding in dogs with chronic kidney disease

Human studies suggest that gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a frequent complication of acute renal failure (ARF). Reports also indicate that the incidence of occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) in human beings with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis therapy is greater than that documented in the general population. However, no studies investigating the incidence of OGIB at various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been performed in veterinary or human medicine. Normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia results from a combination of a de ficient erythropoietin production by dysfunctional kidneys, poor nutrition, a reduced red blood cell lifespan, and occasionally spontaneous blood loss.
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research